Chinese knockoff breadboard :)

[dentaku]

I got an inexpensive but still quite good breadboard from China made by a company named C and D Products.
The logo looks exactly like the logo on Dave's K and H breadboard but obviously it's not K and H.
The packaging has some hilariously bad English on it.
The strange thing I noticed today after having it for some time already is that the numbers along the horizontal axis an the vertical letters embossed in the plastic don't seem to be useful for anything (not that they ever are).
The numbers don't line up with the columns at all and the letter are even quite off with the rows.

It's like they put them there just because they saw that other manufacturers do it too.
The numbers and letters on my 3M breadboard (which is 10X more expensive) actually match with the rows and columns at least

[sleemanj]

The numbers line up with the columns if you start from the power rail, ignoring the two incomplete columns on the left.  This is fairly common (I don't know why having a missing couple columns on the power rails is common, but it is).

The letter font was just too big

[tom66]

On the subject of breadboards, does anyone know why on some breadboards, the power rails and the normal rails don't always line up? In that one they do, but I've owned several where they don't. It's always confused/annoyed/irritated me.

[denelec]

It looks a lot like a breadboard I bought more than 25 years ago for $10.
Never liked it. The wires were hard to insert. I found much better ones for $12 at another store.

[notsob]

If you want weird, have a look at these test clips, look real close - [ where do you put your thumb]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1set-0-5M-5-Colors-2mm-Gold-banana-plug-to-Small-Test-Hook-Clip-Cable-Probes-/180900484479?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a1e82557f

[sleemanj]

If you want weird, have a look at these test clips, look real close - [ where do you put your thumb]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1set-0-5M-5-Colors-2mm-Gold-banana-plug-to-Small-Test-Hook-Clip-Cable-Probes-/180900484479?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a1e82557f

Might just be the photo angle, those types of test hooks have a side entry.  But then again, China, who knows maybe a factory goofed an order

[dentaku]

Doh! You're right. The numbers just start on the 3rd column. That way it starts in line with the power strip which I guess is not a bad thing.
The letters don't line up though because as you say, the font is way too big.

The numbers line up with the columns if you start from the power rail, ignoring the two incomplete columns on the left.  This is fairly common (I don't know why having a missing couple columns on the power rails is common, but it is).

The letter font was just too big

[notsob]

Nope - i've seen them - the wire goes into the centre of the top (push down) bit of the connector - wtf !!

[peter.mitchell]

Nope - i've seen them - the wire goes into the centre of the top (push down) bit of the connector - wtf !!

I have used those specific connectors and i'd say that is the least of your worries
The bits where you put your fingers are way too small, and the wire does not feed through the hole well enough so they don't spring well, also the hooks don't maintain shape, and they're incredibly flimsy when retracted because they use 4 of the tiniest bit of plastic to retain/align the cap.

[amyk]

I don't know why having a missing couple columns on the power rails is common, but it is

Because that's where the mounting holes would go. Look at denelec's picture.

[nitro2k01]

Are my eyes being fooled by the camera lens, or is the space between each group of power rails slightly too big, so they the power holes get more and more misaligned against the other holes as you move to the right?

[scientist]

I think it's just the camera angle.

[dentaku]

No, I was just using a wide angle lens.
They line up fine.

Are my eyes being fooled by the camera lens, or is the space between each group of power rails slightly too big, so they the power holes get more and more misaligned against the other holes as you move to the right?

[dentaku]

Today I was building a Voltage Controlled Amplifier with an LM13700 OTA on that breadboard and nothing worked then I noticed something else about it, the power rails are split in the middle. That was obviously my fault for not looking more closely at it
I know that's a common feature but I guess I was too interested in my new 3M breadboard to bother looking at this $5 Chinese one until now.

This is the first real circuit I've actually built on it.

I don't know it that's a feature I like or not but I guess it could come in handy if I ever need to use two different power sources at the same time.

[rdl]

I have a couple of SYB-130 breadboards I got off eBay. Not too bad really, but the first time I used one I had problems getting a circuit to work. After getting my meter out I discovered that, not only were the power rails split, but that they were split into three different parts!

[dentaku]

Wow, 3 parts. That's a bit excessive.

I have a couple of SYB-130 breadboards I got off eBay. Not too bad really, but the first time I used one I had problems getting a circuit to work. After getting my meter out I discovered that, not only were the power rails split, but that they were split into three different parts!